AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8287, 15 November 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

AN OVERDUE DREDGE. Received November 14, 10.2 a.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 14. All hope of the safety of the dredge Walrus has been abandoued. The dredge was purchased by the Geelong Harbour Tiusfc, at Durnan, and she is now 90 days oat from that port. She was provisioned for 60 days, and carried 23 hands. SLAUGHTERMEN'S DEMANDS. Reoeived November 14, 8.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 14. The slaughtermen bnve seoured their demands. The other employees alao made an application for increases, which have been conceded. DEATH OF AN ACTRESS. Received November 14, 8.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 14. Mies Mabel Lane, actress, is dead. (Miss Mabel Lane came to Australia from England in 1902 for the pro duotion m Sydney of "Ben Hur." This great play had a chequered oarser, and finally its term was ended by His Majasty's Theatre, Sydner, being burned down onFalm Sunday, Mr Williimson retained, Miss Lane and others of •;he "Ben tlur" Company Jo support Mr Ouyler Hastings in "Sherloob Holmes." Her laet engagement in Australia was with Mr William Anderson). WEATHER IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Received November 14, 5.30 a.m. SYDNEY, November 14. Splendid raina are falling throughout the country. THE SECESSION MOVEMENT. RESULT OP A BYE ELEOTJON. Reoeived November 14, 10.30 a.m. PERTH, November 14. A, Bill providing for a referendum on thoques ion of secession was read a first time in the House of Assembly. A Bill authorising a two and ahalf million loan for public works was also read « fi-st time. The bye-eleotioa for East Fremantle, through the unseating of Mr Holmes, has resulted in the return of Mr Anwin (Labour) by an overwhelming majority. Mr Holmes did not oontestjhe seat? . BOXING. Reoeived November 14, 10.2 a.m. MELBOURNE, Nov. 14. The Inter-State amateur boxing oontests resulted as follows:—■ Middleweight: Baker, New South Wales, beat Saott, Victoria. Featherweight: 'Dickenson, New South Wales, beat Copperwaite, Victoria. Lightweight: Parberry, New South Wales, beat Lynot, Victoria, Bantam: Fitzjohn, N«w South beat Lube, Victoria. Heavyweight: Baker, New South Wales, beat Waldie, Viotoria.

NEW HEBRIDES COiNVENTION. Received November 15, 12.29 a.m. r MELBOURNE, Nor. 14. A dephtation, representing the directors of tbe Natives Association, waited on the Hon. A. Deakin with referenoe to the New flefcrides^Oonvention. The deputation presented a resolution carried by tbe directors, expressing regret that the wishes of Messrs Deakin and Seddon had not been further embodied in tbe convention. They strongly urged Mr Deakin to have the matter reopened. The President of the' Board of Directors said that the islands were of far more importance to Australia than they could possibly be to any other nation. Frum a commercial point of view they were of lUtle use to France, bat she appeared to regard them as useful for coaling purposes. The question tbe deputation particularly wished to ask was: "Did the Prime Minister consider Australian interests were being sufficiently safeguarded?" If be did, thej were prepared to let the matter rest at that. If cot the Association was ready to make the whole matter a live public question, and New Zeatßnd would ba asked to co-uperate in having the terras made more favourable to Australasia. Mr Deakin, in replying, said that with regard to "tbe question of whether the Government vsas satisfled, he certainly could say emphatically that it was not. It objected in the first place to the convention, as it provided carefully for Frenoh interests and French expansion, and was not so mindful of British or Australian interests. While Mr Seddon and himself were negotiating with tbe authorities circumstances arose which rendered the immediate declaration of a dual control necessary.. Tnie t unfortunately, implied the acceptance of .the draft convention as far as it tfent. Tbe President: Is it true tha* the attitude of a third power rendered this hurried actinu necessary? Mr Deakiu said that some iuflu enow of the kind was at work.

CABLE NEWS.

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